Modeling framework for coordinated operation of series-parallel reservoir groups considering storage-discharge regulation mechanisms

The core reservoir group of the main stream from the lower Jinsha River to the middle Yangtze River in China includes Wudongde, Baihetan, Xiluodu, Xiangjiaba cascade reservoirs (abbreviated as Jinxia Reservoir Group), and the Three Gorges Reservoir. A coordinated operational modeling framework that simultaneously performs multi-objective optimization and storage-discharge regulation, as well as a multi-level watershed generalization method for extracting operation objects, relationships, and periods, have been proposed. When encountering floods with design frequency P ≥ 1 %, the Jinxia Reservoir Group should prioritize synchronous regulation order, providing 37.27 × 10 8 m 3 storage capacity (24.06 % of the total flood control storage capacity) to the Three Gorges Reservoir for coordinated flood control pressure management in the middle and lower Yangtze River. Furthermore, several notable findings were obtained: (a) The response intensity of reservoirs to regulation mechanisms is positively correlated with storage capacity. (b) Differences in the regulation order can lead to differences of 1.3–2.6 times storage capacity consumption. The findings of this study contribute to the advancement of operational modeling theory and the development of refined coordinated operation schemes for reservoir groups. • Multi-level watershed generalization is the foundation for coordinated operation. • Differences in regulation order can lead to consumption differences of 1.3～2.6 times in storage capacity. • Synchronous is the optimal operating order for the reservoir group in the lower Jinsha River.